Picking motion for narrow fabric looms



Sept. 13, 1960 Filed March 25, 1957 E. A. ROSS 2,952,277

PICKING MOTION FOR NARROW FABRIC LOOMS 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 EDGAR AJQoss INVENTOR.

Biearmfi waw ATTORNEYS Sept. 13, R055 PICKING MOTION FOR NARROW FABRIC LOOMS Filed March 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 6 EDeA -A Poss IN VENTOR ATTORNEYS 2,952,277 Patented Sept. 13, 1960 PICKIN G MOTION FOR NARROW FABRIC LOOMS 7 Edgar A. Ross, Anderson, S.C. (21 Balentine Drive, Greenville, S.C.)

Filed Mar. 25, 1957, SerQNo. 648,029

1 Claim. (Cl. 139-138) This invention relates to an improved picking motionfor looms and more especially to an apparatus which may be adapted to a loom ordinarily used for weaving wide goods and permits economical conversion from a wide goods to a narrow fabric loom.

Heretofore, in order to weave narrow fabrics such as belting Venetian blind tapes and the like it has been necessary to buy a special narrow fabric loom. Since a narrow fabric loom is a specialty item, very few comparies manufacture limited numbers of this type of loom.

applied .to a wide fabric loom in order to take advan-v tage of the improvements available in wide fabric looms.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved picking motion for a converted narrow fabric loom to provide an accurate positioning of the shuttles at either end of their arcuate stroke as Well as providing a convenient means for modifying the picking motion to increase or decrease the length of travel of the shuttles in both directions to increase or decrease the width of the fabric woven. The improved picking motion may also be adapted to conventional narrow fabric looms and will provide an improvement over the picking mo tion now in use on the narrow fabric looms.

It is another object of this invention to provide a converted narrow fabric loom which remains the same:

length as the conventional wide fabric loom and therefore has a lesser number of shuttles than the conventional narrow fabric loom. Thus, when it is necessary to stop the loom, the production lost from down time is not as great as is the case when the greater number of shuttles on a conventional narrow fabric loom are stopped. There are many reasons for stopping the loom and causing down time such as for repairs, changing warp beams, or filling the bobbins of the shuttles thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved picking motion for narrow fabric weaving in which the individual shuttles are moved by positive driving or picking means in both directions and where the driving means may be easily modified to change the lengthof stroke of the shuttles within a wide range.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved picking motion for narrow fabric weaving wherein the picking motion mechanism is mounted on an easily accessible fixed part of the loom and remote fromthe lay so that the mounting of the picking motion on a loom may be effected regardless of the shape or size of the lay. Since the picking motion is mounted on an easily accessible position of the loom, cleaning of the parts may be easily carried out and prevent maladjustment and inoperativeness due to accumulation of lint and the like.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the'description pro ceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the converted narrow fabric loom with parts broken away and showing the improved picking motion associated therewith;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation, with parts in section, taken substantially along the line 33 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the structure shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a somewhat schematic front elevation of the lay of the loom, removed from the loom, wit-h the central portion thereof broken away;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation taken substantially along the line 66 in Figure 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numerals 10 and 11 indicate respective right-hand and lefthand loom frame members which are spaced apart from each other and rigidly secured together by a conventional breast beam 12, a lower front girt 13, a lower rear girt 14 and an upper crank shaft supporting girt 15. The loom is also provided with a conventional main crank shaft 17 and the conventional pick cam shaft 18 (Figure 2), both of which are driven in a conventional manner, well known to those familiar with the art. The loom is provided with the usual warp beam, not shown, from which a plurality of warp threads W are unwound and pass over the usual whip roll, stop motion, and through the heddle harnesses, not shown. The harnesses move the warp threads W to alternately form an open shed for passage of the shuttles S through the open shed. A filling thread, supplied by the shuttles S, is passed between the warp threads W each time the shuttles S pass through the open shed formed and an additional pick of narrow fabric or tape T is formed after each beat-up stroke of the loom and the tape T is taken up as it is formed by take-up rolls 20, 21 and 22 (Figure 2). The loom is also provided with the usual swords 2 25 and 26, adjacent respective side frames 10 and ill,

the lower ends of which are fixed on a novel hollow rock shaft which forms a part of the present invention and will be later described. The upper ends of the swords 2'5 and 26 are oscillated by connecting arms of crank arms 30, only one of which is shown, connected to the crank throws on the main crank shaft 17.

It might be stated thatt the type of loom shown and described is ordinarily used for the weaving of wide fabrics and usually the conventional lay is connected adjacent the upper ends of the swords 25 and 26 to support a raceway for a conventional shuttle. The shut-- tle is ordinarily thrown from one end of the raceway to the other by the usual picker sticks which are a part of the conventional wide fabric loom.

The present invention resides in replacing the usual lay with a novel lay 40, removing the picker sticks, shuttle and shuttle boxes, supporting a plurality of conventional narrow fabric shuttles S (Figures 1 and 2) for rocking or arcuate movement between adjacent spaced shuttle guides 42 mounted on and spaced transversely along the lay 40, and providing an improved picking motion for moving the shuttles S in an arcuate path through the open shed formed by the warp yarns W. A pluralityof relatively narrow reeds 45 are fixed between the spaced shuttle guides 42 for spacing the warp yarns W transversely of the lay 4-0 and for forming an additional pick of fabric T with each beat-up stroke of the lay 41%. The shuttle guides 42 also support rotatable pinions '4-6, the upper peripheries of which engage the teeth of conventional arcuate racks, not shown, on the shuttles and causeshuttles S to be moved from one shuttle guide 42 to the next adjacent shuttle guide 412 and across the reed 45 as the pinions 46 are oscillated in a manner to be later described. Thelower peripheries of each of the pinions 46- engage the teeth in a rack 50 (Figures 2 and which is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in the lay 4t). The rack 50 is adapted to be moved in alternate directions longitudinally of. the lay 40 by an improved picking motion which includes a pair of chain engaging blocks 51 and 52 suitably fixed on opposite ends of the rack 50 (Figure 5). The block 51 is adapted to engage and hold one end of a pick chain 55 which extends partially around a sprocket wheel 56 (Figure 5), rotatably mounted on and adjacent the right-hand end of the lay 40, and downwardly to where the other end thereof is suitably secured to the upper end of a length adjusting member which may be a turnbuckle 6%). The lower end of the turnbuckle 60 has one end of a chain 61 suitably fixed thereto and extending downwardly therefrom to partially surround a sprocket 62 rotatably mounted on a sprocket support member 63 fixed on one end of a first hollow rock shaft 65. The first hollow rock shaft 65 comprises one-half of a complete tubular rock shaft broadly designated at 70. The first hollow rock shaft 65 is oscillatably mounted and supported in the frame member by a bearing member 7-1 (Figure l) fixed in the frame .10 and the lower end of the sword 25 is suitably secured to the rock shaft 65 so that oscillation is imparted to the shaft 65 with oscillation of the sword 25 and lay 40.

The chain 61 extends into and through the first hollow rock shaft 65 and partially surrounds a sprocket 72 mounted for rotation on a sprocket bearing 73 fixed on the inner end of the first rock shaft 65. The chain 61 extends upwardly from the sprocket 72 and partially surrounds a relatively large sprocket 75 fixed adjacent the rear end of a shaft 76 the front end of which is rotatably mounted in a pair of spaced bearings 80 and 81 (Figures 2 and 4) fixed on a horizontally disposed support plate 82. The support plate 82 is fixed on the top of a pedestal 84, the lower end of which is fixed to and supported by the lower front girt 13 and the pedestal 84 is provided with outwardly diverging front and rear brace members 85 and 86 the upper ends of which engage and lend rigidity to the plate 82 (Figure 2). A relatively small sprocket 90 is spaced from the sprocket 75 and fixed on the stub shaft 76.

From the sprocket 75, the chain 61 extends downwardly to partially surround a sprocket 92 mounted for rotation in a sprocket bearing 93 fixed on the inner end of a second hollow rock shaft 95. The sprocket support bearings 73 and 93 are fixed on the respective inner ends of the first and second hollow rock shafts 65 and 95 and are interconnected by a plate 100, opposite ends of which are fixed on the respective sprocket bearing members 73 and 93.

The second hollow rock shaft 95 extends through and is oscillatably mounted in a bearing 101 fixed in the frame member 11 and the lower end of the sword 26 is fixed on the second rock shaft 95. The end of the rock shaft 95, outside of the frame member 11, has a chain sprocket bearing member 1413 fixed thereto which supports a rotatable chain sprocket 104. The chain 61 extends through the second rock shaft 95 to partially surround the sprocket 164 and extends upwardly therefrom and the end thereof is fixed on the lower end of a turnbuckle 166 (Figure 1). The upper end of the turnbuckle 106 has one end of a chain 107 fixed thereto which extends upwardly and partially surrounds a rotatable sprocket i110 mounted for rotation adjacent the left-hand end of the lay 40. The chain 167 extends horizontally from the sprocket 110 (Figure 5) and the end thereof is fixed to the chain block 52 fixed on the left-handend of the rackStl;

'- for raising and lowering the front end'of the pick arm 114.

The end of the chain 112, opposite the end connected to the pick arm 114;. is adjustably secured as by a chain holder 126 adjacent the front end of a second pick arm 121, the rear. end of, which is oscillatably mounted on the bracket 116 and the arm .121 has a roller 122 rotatably mounted intermediate its ends forengagement with a second pick cam 123 fixed on the pick cam shaft 18 (Figures 2, 3 and 4).

In operation, each time that the lay 40 moves from its rearmost position or the open shed position to its forward position or beat-up position against the fell of the fabric or tape T and returns to the rearmost or open shed position, the pick shaft 18 makes one half revolution. As the pick shaft 18 makes one half revolution from the position shown in Figure 2, in the direction of the arrow, the arm 114 will be moved downwardly by the earn 120 to assume the lower position and the arm 121 will move upwardly with rotation of the cam 123. As the arms 114 and 121 change positions the sprocket 91 will be oscillated in a counterclockwise direction in Figures 1 and 3 and oscillate the relatively large sprocket 75 in a counterclockwise direction. Upon oscillating the sprocket 75 in a counterclockwise direction, the chain 61 will be moved through the hollow rock shafts 65 and 95, from right to i left in Figure 1, so that the chain 55, attached to one end position shown in Figure 5, across the reeds 45 and be- I tween the open sheds formed of the warp yarns W while the lay 40 is in its rearmost or open shed position. The

arms i114 and 121 then remain in substantially a stationary position for approximately one quarter revolution of the pick shaft 18 to allow time for the lay 40 to make its forward or beat-up stroke and return before the arms 114 and 121 again change positions.

With the next quarter revolution of the pick shaft 18 the arms 114 and 121 will again change positions so that they return to substantially the position shown in Figure 2. Upon the arms 114 and 121 returning to the position shown in Figure 2, the relatively large sprocket 75 will be rocked or oscillated in a clockwise direction (Figures l and 3) to this move the chain 61 from left to right in Figure 1, through the hollow rock shafts 65 and 95, so that the chain 107, attached to one end of the chain 61 and the rack 50, will pull the rack 50 from right to left in Figure 5. Upon the rack 50 being moved from right to left the pi-nions 46 will be rotated in a clockwise direction to thus cause the shuttles S to be swung in a counterclockwise arcuate path from one of the shuttle guides 4,2, across the reeds 45 to the position shown in Figure 5 and through the open sheds formed by the wrap yarns W while the lay 40 is in its rearmost or open shed position.

It is thus seen that with continued one-half revolutions of the pick cam shaft 18, with each beat-up stroke of the lay 40, the rack 50 will continue to alternately slide in the lay, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, to cause the shuttles S to be arcuately moved from one shuttle guide 42 to the other across the reed 45. Each time the shuttle S passes across the reed 45 a filling yarn is left between the open shed formed of the warp yarns W and the filling yarn forms an additional pick of fabric or tape T each time a beat-up stroke is made with the lay 40.

It is possible to change or adjust the movement of the shuttles S in several ways by simple adjustments of the improved pick motion, clearly shown in the following examples. In the event that the shuttles S swing too far in one direction and do not swing far enough in the opposite direction to clear the warp threads W when the shuttles S reach the end of their arcuate stroke, a first shuttle stroke adjusting means for changing the arcuate travel of the shuttles S includes the chain holders 1113 and 120 the position of either of which maybe changed relative to the pick arms 114 and 121 so that with the same length of stroke of the arms 114 and 1 21 the chain 112, the movement of the sprocket 90, the sprocket 75, the chain 61, the rack 50 and the shuttles S will be changed accordingly. A second shuttle stroke adjusting means for changing the arcuate travel of the shuttles S includes the turnbuckles 60 and 106. By adjusting the turnbuckles 60 and 106 the movement of the rack 50 and shuttles S relative to the movement of the chain 61 may be changed as desired. Thus, if the shuttles S swing too far in their counterclockwise arch and not far enough in their clockwise arch, the swing of the shuttles S in both directions may be equalized by loosening the turnbuckle 106 and tightening the turnbuckle 60. Although the chain 61 will make the same length of movement in both directions, the position of the rack 50 and shuttles S relative to the chain 61 will be changed with adjustment of the turnbuckles 60 and 106.

In order to modify the loom to produce a wider or narrower fabric or tape T, it is necessary to change the shuttles S, guides 42 and reeds 45 and the present picking motion may still be used to cause the shuttles S to have a much greater or much shorter length of travel, in their arcuate path, by simple modification of the picking motion. If it is desired to weave a narrower tape T the small sprocket gear 90 may be replaced by another sprocket gear which is of a large diameter and thereby imparts a lesser number of degrees of rotation to be imparted to the relatively large gear 75 with each reciprocation of the arms 114 and 121. A shorter arch of travel may also be imparted to the shuttles S by replacing the sprocket 75 with a sprocket of smaller diameter so that less movement will be imparted to the chain 61 with each oscillation of the sprocket 90 and each reciprocation of the arms 114, 121. This same effect may also be obtained by using the sprockets 90 and 75 shown and reducing the length of throw of the forward ends of the pick arms 114, 121 by replacing the pick cams 120 and 123 with pick cams having a lesser difference in their high and low surfaces so that the length of arcuate travel of the shuttles S is decreased by the reduced length of throw of the arms 114, 121. The length of arcuate stroke of the shuttles S may be increased in order to weave a wider tape T by replacing the sprocket 90 with another sprocket of smaller diameter, replacing the sprocket 75 with another sprocket of larger diameter or replace the pick cams 120 and 123 with other pick cams having a greater difference in their high and low surfaces.

It is thus seen that there has been provided an improved picking motion for narrow fabric looms which may be easily installed on a conventional wide goods loom to allow the converted narrow fabric loom to retain all the advantages of a wide goods loom while providing the same with a great many advantages over a conventional narrow fabric loom. The improved picking motion includes improvements in the movement of the shuttles S from one shuttle guide to the other in that the shuttles S are positively moved in both directions, by adjustment means for varying the travel of the shuttle in either direction and by easily adapted modification of the picking motion to increase or decrease the length of travel of the shuttle in both directions.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claim:

I claim:

In a loom having a pair of spaced apart side frame members, a lower front girt connected at opposite ends to said side frame members, a lay, a driven pick shaft, a plurality of shuttles mounted on said lay, a rack movable longitudinally of said lay, gear means engaging said rack for transmitting movement to said shuttles and swords supporting opposite ends of said lay, the combination therewith of a pair of tubular rock shafts journaled in the lower portion of said side frame members and supporting said swords, said rock shafts positioned in axial alinement and the inner ends thereof terminating in spaced apart relationship adjacent the medial portion of said girt, means rigidly connecting the inner ends of the rock shafts to provide an opening therebetween, sprockets rotatably mounted on opposite ends of each of said tubular rock shafts, first and second interconnected driving sprockets oscillatably mounted on said girt and above the opening formed between the inner ends of said rock shafts, a first chain connected at opposite ends to opposite ends of said rack, the medial portion of said first chain passing through said tubular rock shafts, engaging said sprockets mounted on opposite ends thereof, passing out of the opening between terminal ends of the rock shafts and engaging said first driving sprocket, a second chain engaging with said second driving sprocket, and picking means connected to opposite ends of said second chain to impart oscillation to said second chain and said interconnected first and second driving sprockets with rotation of said pick shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 364,697 Wyman June 14, 1887 618,214 Steere Ian. 24, 1899 1,462,549 Holmes July 24, 1923 1,668,150 Holmes May 1, 1928 2,309,985 Ruist Feb. 2, 1943 2,415,623 Brooks et al Feb. 11, 1947 2,437,349 Cobb Mar. 9, 1948 2,478,581 Holmes Aug. 9, 1949 2,657,715 Holmes Nov. 3, 1953 2,771,098 Ross Nov. 20, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 49,253 Switzerland Nov. 2, 1909 

